Visas are required for everyone travelling to Madagascar and are usually issued for a 30 day stay period. They are delivered to visitors either by Malagasy diplomatic representations and consulates abroad or at the airport or port of disembarkation against payment of the corresponding fee.

Non immigrant stay visas for less than 3 months may be extended at Police stations for a cumulative period not exceeding 3 months.

Documents required:

- Passport still valid for 6 months minimum

- 3 copies of form to be filled in by applicant

- 4 passport size recent photos

- 1 photocopy of an OK ticket or certificate from the travel agency

- For business trips, a written application indicating the reason for the travel

- Parental permission for minors travelling on their own

- Visa fee to be paid at the time of application or photocopy of the postal order.

Visa fees for stays in Madagascar are as follows as from 1st January

2008:

- Less than 3 months or equal to 3 months: 140.000 MGA or 60 euros

- More than 3 months to 3 years: 150.000 MGA

- 3 to 5 years: 200.000 MGA

- More than 5 years to permanent stay: 150.000 MGA

These rates are reduced by half for all missionaries and their spouses

living in Madagascar as well as for foreign nationals studying in any school of

Higher Education of the Republic of Madagascar.

A Convertible visa may be issued to potential immigrants, either by Malagasy diplomatic and consular representative offices or, exceptionally, by post from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This type of visa cannot be issued at the airport or port of disembarkation.

As for animals, a vaccination certificate is required, in particular against rabies.

The process of issuing a visa is simple and fast provided that the applicant produces the required documents.

For further details incl. application form, visit the web site of the embassy of Madagascar in your country.

Private cars and motorcycles belonging to foreigners who have been authorised to settle and reside in Madagascar are exempt from import duty and taxes subject to some conditions.

Duty-free travellers' allowances

Travellers are free to take outside the country:

- 250 gr of hallmarked jewels (subject to justifying entry with foreign currencies, the traveller may be allowed to take as much as 1 kg)

- 2 kg of vanilla exempted from tax and duties.

Antananarivo-Ivato duty free shops are among the best-stocked and the cheapest in this zone.

Prohibited purchases:

-- Endangered animal and plant species listed in annex I of CITES (Convention on

International Trade of Fauna and Flora Species), including lemurs, tortoise, boa, and orchids